Business
Sri Lanka Tea Exports Fall 4% in January–April Amid Mideast Shipping Disruptions
Sri Lanka tea exports fell 4% YoY in Jan-Apr 2026 to 78.3 mn kg with earnings down 5.6% to $451 mn, as US-Iran shipping disruptions hit Middle East markets.
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Business
UNP Warns of Public Hardship as Rupee Slides From Rs.292 to Rs.354 Under NPP
UNP said the rupee has slid from Rs.292 when Ranil left office to about Rs.354, warning the wider public will absorb cost-of-living pain from a weaker rupee.
Business
President urges public to cut fuel and import use as dollar crisis deepens; JAAF says rupee fall is global
President Dissanayake urged Sri Lankans to cut fuel imports as the rupee weakened; the apparel sector said the slide reflects global trends, not local policy.
Business
Courts fine Nuwara Eliya traders Rs.600,000 and Mulleriyawa supermarket Rs.500,000 for overpricing
Nuwara Eliya court fined two traders for selling water and rice above regulated prices; Mulleriyawa supermarket fined for overcharging on Keeri Ponni rice.
Business
CPC Says Fuel Stocks Last Until August; 90,000 MT US Crude Due May 28
CPC MD Mayura Neththikumarage says reserves cover August, orders are placed to November, and 90,000 MT US crude arrives May 28 with a second shipment May 31.
Business
Cabinet awards Crayon Software $1.816mn Microsoft licence contract for SriLankan Airlines
Two-year deal renews Microsoft licences for the national carrier; Crayon Software Lanka identified as the lowest responsive bidder, Vijitha Herath says.
Business
CSE closes sharply lower as rupee depreciation weighs on market sentiment
The ASPI fell nearly 2% to 21,856 on Wednesday as the rupee's ongoing depreciation drove selling pressure across the Colombo Stock Exchange.
Business
Sri Lanka Customs hits 65% of May revenue target in 18 days, ahead of pace
Customs collected Rs.122 billion of its Rs.187.8 billion May target by May 18, but a new 50% surcharge on personal vehicle imports may slow the pace.
Business
Expressways earned Rs. 16.3bn in 2025, cost Rs. 5.2bn to maintain — minister
Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake tells Parliament the first full-year disclosure: Rs. 11.15bn surplus across 312.57km, Southern Expressway top earner.
Business
Foreign investors turn net sellers of Sri Lanka bonds for first time in 2026
Offshore holders sold a net Rs. 4.73 billion of rupee securities to May 14, tipping cumulative 2026 flows into outflow as rupee depreciation resumed.
Business
Imported milk powder prices rise with immediate effect: 400g up Rs.50, 1kg up Rs.125
Milk Powder Importers' Association announces price revision Wednesday; cost-of-living hit lands alongside rupee at Rs.340 and credit-card growth slowing.
Business
India-Sri Lanka Mumbai forum closes with focus on energy, logistics and tourism partnerships
Ceylon Chamber-CII business forum in Mumbai on May 13 wraps with calls to deepen renewable-energy, port and ferry connectivity, and Indian FDI into Sri Lanka.
Business
Govt to waive full interest on income tax arrears settled within six months
Deputy Min. Nishantha Jayaweera tells Parliament the IR Amendment Bill grants a 6-month interest waiver on tax arrears, with base broadening over rate hikes.
Business
Ornamental fish farmers hit by Cyclone Ditwah to get up to Rs. 75,000 in relief
Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage announces transparent import mechanism, NAQDA operational plan and Rs.50,000–75,000 grants for small-scale producers.
Business
Rupee Selling Rate Hits Rs. 346.50 at Commercial, Sampath Banks
Commercial and Sampath both quote Rs. 346.50 on the dollar Wednesday, a fresh cycle high as bond yields move wider and Treasury TT prints Rs. 343.50.
Business
Rupee closes at 345.50 TT-selling, bond yields up, T-bill auction undersold at Rs.67bn of Rs.140bn
Fixed-income wrap: TT-selling 345.50/USD with no spot close, bonds up across the curve, and weekly T-bill auction filled only 48% of Rs.140bn target.
Business
Sri Lanka adds 22,473 active credit cards in March 2026; total tops 2.21 million
Credit card base grew 1% in March and 2.3% across Q1, but analysts expect issuance to slow as fuel rationing and rupee weakness squeeze household budgets.
Business
Sri Lanka signs MoU with Russia to modernise railway sector at Kazan forum
Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake and Russian Deputy Minister Dmitry Serebryakov signed the agreement at the 17th International Economic Forum in Tatarstan.
Business
Sri Lanka tourist arrivals cross 950,000 mark in 2026
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority confirmed cumulative arrivals passed 950,000 for the year, sustaining the milestone trajectory through May.
Business
Sugar, dhal and rice prices set to rise as rupee depreciation squeezes food importers
The Essential Food Importers' Association warned the weakening rupee will push up consumer prices for sugar, dhal, rice and other staples in the coming weeks.
Business
Sri Lanka tourist arrivals stabilising in May after sharp Middle East conflict-driven falls
Sri Lanka logged 75,465 arrivals in the first 17 days of May, just 0.9% below last year, recovering sharply from March–April's 20–22% declines.
Business
Economist Wignaraja warns Sri Lanka should plan for an 18th IMF programme as war and Ditwah compound recovery
ODI Global fellow tells RCSS dialogue the contingency is becoming inevitable; outlines best, moderate and prolonged-war scenarios under Hormuz shock.
Business
US Justice Department drops criminal fraud case against Adani
DOJ moved to dismiss bribery prosecution of Gautam Adani over alleged $250M solar scheme, citing prosecutorial discretion after FCPA enforcement pause.
Business
Anil Jayantha Cites Middle East, Oil and FX Demand for Rupee Slide as Sajith Presses Govt
Deputy Finance Minister tells Parliament the rupee has lost 4.8% on the dollar, blaming Middle East tensions, oil and FX demand as Sajith presses for a plan.